The heating control system and method for saving energy

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a heating control system for saving energy and its heating control method, in which system energy for heating rooms in a housing is reduced by separately heating individual rooms only during particular time periods in time/day selected by considering each room user&#39;s everyday living patterns. For this purpose, in the system, a plurality of saving time periods in time/day are stored in advance into a storage. If the user selects and sets at least one of the plurality of saving time periods for heating a room, a valve adjuster output valve control signals to a valve controller to open or close an auto valve corresponding to the room. The valve adjuster may be adapted of stand-alone type or of integrated type, in which integrated type the valve adjuster and a boiler adjuster are incorporated into a integrated adjuster.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the heating control system and its method for saving energy, in which hot water heated by a boiler is distributed by a hot water distributor and circularly flows through pipes to heat one or more of rooms. Especially it directs to the system in which each room temperature can be separately controlled at an appropriate temperature and the total operating time of the boiler can be reduced, whereby fuel for heating can be efficiently saved and the production of greenhouse gases can be reduced.

BACKGROUND ART

An ondol type heating control system for heating rooms including living room and kitchen room in a housing and an apartment etc., generally include a boiler, hot water distributor and pipes through which hot water heated by the boiler is provided under floor of each room via the hot water distributor and returned back to the boiler, whereby the hot water passing through the pipes heats the floor so that the heated floor radiates heat into the inside space of each room to adjust the room temperature.

This ondol heating control system also includes a heating adjuster which senses temperature of water in the boiler or ambient temperature of boiler adjuster to perform various functions including room temperature adjustment, hot water heating mode selection, hot water temperature adjustment, boiler operating time adjustment, being-out, check-lamp conformation and power on/off.

And there are some methods to save energy in the ondol heating control system: reducing heating time; decreasing the heating temperature; and selectively heating for particular time only selected ones among a plurality of rooms including living room, kitchen room and library room. Especially the selective heating method is very effective in saving energy for heating water in the boiler, with reduced heating area enabling to increase the temperatures of the selected rooms in shorter time to setting temperatures.

However, even though patterns of using individual rooms are different, most homes use their heating control systems to adjust the temperature by just only turning on or off the boiler using the boiler adjuster, with valves for pipes in the hot water distributor kept open all the time.

Floor areas of both of living and a kitchen rooms in a housing or an apartment are generally designed to be as wide as approximately half that of total rooms. However the living room and the kitchen are scarcely used at night, especially on sleeping time. Therefore if the valves corresponding to the living and kitchen rooms in the hot water distributor could be effectively controlled to be closed on sleeping time, then the fuel cost for heating would be reduced. Similarly, if any rooms were not used during any time period, for example, studying time at school or working time at work, the corresponding valves could be closed during that time to further reduce the cost for heating.

However this known heating control systems require manual operations in opening or closing the valves in hot water distributor to reduce fuel cost. Such manual operations are very troublesome, especially when the hot water distributor is positioned to particular place, for example, inside the sink of the kitchen or boiler room. And even though the manual operations are possible to turn on/off the valves at desired time to reduce the fuel cost, users are reluctant to go to the hot water distributor for manual operations of the valves, especially when it is early morning and they feel cold. Therefore most users make the valves remain open, resulting in unnecessary heating of rooms and consumption of fuel.

As depicted in FIG. 1, a heating control system has been used lately, which system comprises a hot water distributor to distribute hot water through a plurality of pipes, each extending into a corresponding room of a plurality of rooms, a plurality of auto valves associated with the pipes in the hot water distributor, valve controller to turn on/off the auto valves and a plurality of room temperature adjusters, each adjuster being positioned in a corresponding room and in communication with the valve controller, whereby each room's temperature may be adjusted by separately operating the corresponding room temperature adjuster. In this heating control system, each room temperature adjuster may adjust the room to have its own heating environment by using microprocessor and temperature sensor built in there.

However this known heating control system requires a plurality of room temperature adjusters, each positioned to the corresponding room to separately control the on/off of the corresponding auto valve. Also each room temperature adjuster has its own temperature sensor to detect the room temperature according to which the corresponding auto valve may be ‘on’ or ‘off’. There this system is very complicated and difficult to set up.

Furthermore, according to the prior art, work efficiency in installing the room temperature adjusters within the rooms is very low, because electric wires for installment of the adjusters have not been in advance provided inside the rooms. To solve this problem, a room temperature adjuster controlled by radio signal has been developed. However this system also has problems in that it has to use radio module of high price and battery.

To solve said problems, applicant of this application suggested a system titled with ‘The system for saving energy’ (Korean patent registration No. 10-0740243, Jun. 5, 2006 published), as illustratively depicted in FIG. 2.

The heating control system of FIG. 2 includes a hot water distributor (10), a plurality of auto valves (11 a, 11 b) positioned in the hot water distributor, valve controller (20) to separately control on/off operations of the valves, and room temperature adjuster (30), whereby it is possible to save energy. According to this system, one room's heating could be separately controlled independent of any other room heating environments using one room temperature adjuster. Thus it is unnecessary to install the room temperature adjusters in all the rooms and it is also not necessary to replace any heating apparatus previously installed.

Meanwhile, there are generally two methods for controlling room temperature. One is to control ambient temperatures in rooms based on the room temperatures detected by boiler adjuster in the room and the other is to control water temperature based on temperature of water heated in boiler. Most boiler system adopt one or both of the two methods. In case that all rooms' temperatures are to be concurrently controlled, there are no differences in terms of saving energy between the two methods. However in case that the room temperatures are to be separately controlled, there are some differences in terms of used energy.

For example, first, let's consider a heating control system adopted with the ambient temperature control method. Since the room temperatures are controlled based on the detected ambient temperature around the temperature detector, if the temperature detector are in the living room, the boiler will be operated based on the living room temperature detected by the temperature detector. Now if the valve corresponding to the living room is closed to reduce the fuel cost, then the temperature of living room will decrease and the temperature detector will sense the decreased ambient temperature of living room. However the boiler will keep on being operated because it judges that temperatures set by a user is not yet reached, finally resulting in higher temperatures than those set by the user in any other rooms and thus wasting energy. In this respect, if the rooms with no temperature detectors were separately controlled, it would be possible to reduce the fuel cost.

Second, consider a heating control system adopted with the water temperature control method. In this case, the operation of the boiler is controlled irrespective of the place where the boiler adjuster is positioned because the operation is based on the temperature of heated water. Thus if the areas of rooms to be heated decreased due to a closing of any valves, the temperature of water would rapidly increase in a shorter time. Therefore the water temperature control method may be more effective than the ambient temperature control method in respect to saving energy.

Meanwhile, on combustion of fuel in a boiler is produced a great amount of water vapor and gas containing air pollution materials, for example, carbon dioxides, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides. Thus now it is strongly required to develop a heating control system in which not only energy is saved but also air pollution materials are reduced to suppress generation of greenhouse gases.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

One object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof for saving energy, wherein heating control can be separately performed for each room according to living pattern of users to reduce fuel for heating, whereby giving optimal energy saving effect.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof for saving energy, wherein auto valves in a hot water distributor can be automatically and separately switched on or off according to time periods previously scheduled. The time periods may be particular time periods with time or day in units, and may be set by users. According to this system, the valve corresponding to a room that is unnecessary to be heated during particular time period is automatically closed during that period. Thus the energy can be effectively saved and the generation of greenhouse gases can be reduced.

Further another object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof, wherein the auto valves can be automatically and separately controlled based on the days of a week scheduled by the user. According to this system, the heating control can be automatically performed during every week without any further user's selection.

Further another object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof, wherein the system is in saving energy heating mode or continuous heating mode, it can be freely switched to another heating mode such as temporary open or close mode according to the user's needs and then return back to the original heating mode. Thus unnecessary energy consumption by the user's neglect of key operation can be avoided.

Further another object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof, wherein a user can in advance store various kinds of time periods as needed for saving energy, and select one among the stored time periods to control the on/off of the corresponding valve. And the time period selected by the user can be adjusted with respect to start time or end time. This gives the user flexibility in selecting desired time period, especially when the desired time period are not found.

Further another object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof, wherein control signals can be transferred and received via electric wire or radio frequency. According to this invention, the installation or replacement of the system can be done easily.

Further another object of this invention is to provide a heating control system and method thereof, wherein an integrated adjuster comprising a boiler adjuster and a valve adjuster, the boiler adjuster controlling the operation of the boiler and the valve adjuster outputting control signals to automatically and separately control the operations of the valves during particular time periods selected by the user.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, in one aspect of this invention, a heating control system for saving energy, wherein hot water heated by a boiler flows through pipes to heat one or more rooms, comprising: a storage stored with a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; auto valves associated with the pipes in a hot water distributor; an integrated adjuster having a plurality of function setting keys outside; and a valve controller separately controlling to open or close the auto valves according to valve control signals received from the integrated adjuster, wherein the integrated adjuster comprises: a boiler adjuster controlling operation of the boiler according to values inputted from the function setting keys to adjust the temperature of the hot water; and a valve adjuster outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to close auto valves selected during the saving time periods selected by a user using the function setting keys and to open them for the time except the selected saving time periods.

Also the integrated adjuster includes a radio transceiver to transmit or receive data including the valve control signals as radio signals, and the valve controller includes a radio transceiver to receive the radio signals and to detect the data including the valve control signals therefrom or transmit radio signals. Thus the integrated adjuster and the valve controller can transmit or receive data including control signals to each other via radio communication. The radio communication may be one of radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth and Zigbee communications.

The integrated adjuster and the valve controller can be connected each other by wire or power line modem (PLC) to transmit or receive data including the control signals. And the integrated adjuster may be powered by a power supply of the boiler.

In another aspect of this invention a heating control system for saving energy, wherein hot water heated by a boiler flows through pipes to heat one or more rooms, comprising: a storage stored with a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; auto valves associated with the pipes in a hot water distributor; a stand alone adjuster having a plurality of function setting keys outside; and a valve controller separately controlling to open or close the auto valves based on valve control signals received from the stand alone adjuster, wherein the stand alone adjuster comprises: a valve adjuster outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to close auto valves selected during the saving time periods selected by a user using the function setting keys and to open them for the time except the selected saving time periods.

In further another aspect of this invention a heating control method for use in each embodiment of the heating control system described above comprises: (a) storing into the storage in advance a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; (b) selecting and setting at least one of the plurality of saving time periods in time or day using the function setting keys; (c) outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to open or close the auto valves during the set saving time periods in time or day.

In further another aspect of this invention a heating control method for use in individual embodiments of the heating control system described above, comprises: (a) storing into the storage in advance a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; (b) selecting and setting at least one of the plurality of saving time periods in time or day using the function setting keys; (c) outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to control to open or close the auto valves during the set saving time periods in time or day, wherein the selecting and setting step (b1) further comprises checking whether main power is supplied, and counting the accumulated total time during which the ma in power is supplied to the valve adjuster.

In further another aspect of this invention the selecting and setting step (b2) further includes setting or modifying saving time periods directly specified by a user other than the plurality of saving time periods stored in advance. Also the selecting and setting step (b3) further includes storing at least one of compulsory open/close mode, temporary open mode, and lock/unlock mode of any settings for the auto valves using key inputs by a user, and checking the lock/unlock mode of any settings, and if the unlock mode has been selected, storing (b4) at least one of new values of saving time periods in time or day, or compulsory open/close mode and temporary open mode for the auto valves using key inputs by a user.

In further another aspect of this invention the selecting and setting step (b5) may further include setting initial mode to store values set by a user as initial values; and the storing step (a0) may further include setting the initial values as the saving time periods in time or day for each valve concurrently with main power supply.

In further another aspects of this invention the outputting step (c1) may further include at least one of the following steps: sequentially checking whether compulsory open/close mode, saving time periods in day, saving time period in time, and temporary open mode for each valve have been set, and controlling to open or close the each valve based on the results of the checking; if the compulsory open/close mode has been set for each valve, controlling to open or close the each valve based on the set value; if the compulsory open/close mode has not been set for each valve, checking whether saving time periods in day have been set, and controlling to open the each valve on the day; if the compulsory open/close mode and saving time periods in day have not been set for each valve, determining whether the current time is within the saving time period in time, and controlling to open or close the each valve; and while a valve is in close mode during the saving time period in time, checking whether the temporary open mode has been set, and controlling to open the valve for the time specified by the temporary open mode.

In the above all the embodiments of heating control system for saving energy, the valve adjuster may be adapted to include; a key input section with a plurality of function setting keys for generating key signals to select or unlock auto valves or saving time periods in time or day stored in advance and to set current time; a display section to display the select or unlock of auto valves, saving time periods in time or day or any states of operations; input processor to process the key input signals; a storage section for storing saving time periods in time or day designated in advance or specified by key inputs for saving energy; a timer for providing reference clock to count current time or day and a accumulated total time supplied with power to valve adjuster; and main controller for generating valve control signals to open or close the auto valves according to saving time periods in time or day with reference to current time or day counted by the timer.

And the valve adjuster may be desirably adapted to include a power failure compensation section for supplying subsidiary power to compensate for power failure, and when main power supply is stopped, a built-in timer is powered by the subsidiary power to continue current time counting. In the stand-alone type of the heating control system, the valve adjuster may be adapted to check whether main power is supplied, and counts and stores the accumulated total time during which the main power is supplied.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to this invention as aforementioned, a plurality of saving time periods have been stored in advance. If a user wants to set a saving time period for a room to save energy, he/she may just easily select one from among the plurality of stored saving time periods, considering his/her everyday living pattern. And when the living pattern is changed, a new saving time period can be set with simple and easy key operation, whereby even more energy is possibly saved.

Further according to this invention, the user can also set in person with key operations any saving time periods other than the plurality of saving time periods previously stored. Thus the user can actively respond to changes in everyday living pattern to save energy effectively.

Further according to this invention, the saving time periods are provided in hours, in dates and in days. Thus a user can freely select the saving time periods for each room based on the living pattern of each family member in every day, weekday or weekend, thus minimizing troublesome key operations due to changes in living pattern.

Further according to this invention, auto valves can be installed only to rooms selected by a user, and can be controlled independently of each other by an integrated adjuster, resulting in simple installation with lower price.

Further according to this invention, controls between the adjuster and the boiler or the valve controller can be performed by wire or radio. Thus wire or radio in installation of the system can be selected considering the housing conditions, installation constraints or prices.

Further according to this invention, if necessary, the auto valves may be also manually operated. Thus even though some problems occurred in the system, the heating for rooms can be continued by manual operation.

Further according to this invention, a user can switch ‘saving time period’ mode to ‘open’ or ‘close’ mode via the adjuster, and can make the current mode be automatically switched back to the original or any other mode after a designated period. Thus even in case that the user neglected to control the system, the heating control can be automatically continued to save energy.

Further according to this invention, the auto valves can be switched from ‘on operating’ mode to ‘close’ mode and vice versa. Thus if a user leave home for a long time due to, for example, vacation, he/she may also easily and effectively save energy by using the switching each other among various kind of operating modes.

Further according to this invention, when power failure occurred, the system keeps going on operating if it is powered within a predetermined power failure compensation period by power failure function. After the compensation period, the auto valves are switched to ‘open’ mode and a user is notified that the reset of time and day is needed, by alarming or presenting it on liquid crystal display to address the problem earlier.

Further according to this invention, for optimal use of energy according to a user's everyday living pattern, the valves can be set to close at a predetermined time before going bed and going out, and to open at a predetermined time before getting up and going home, whereby enabling efficient use of energy and comfortable living with timely adjustment of temperature.

Further according to this invention, a period during which the heating control for saving energy was used can be easily measured using the count of accumulated total time supplied with power. Thus system provider can install the system for free with a user's home, and can be refunded with the saved cost of energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of conventional heating control system using hot water flowing.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a prior art of the heating control system suggested by this applicant.

FIG. 3 reflects one embodiment of this invention, ‘integrated’ type of the heating control system.

FIG. 4 reflects another embodiment of this invention, ‘stand-alone’ type of the heating control system.

FIG. 5, FIG. 6 show flows of operations occurred in ‘stand-alone’ type controller of the heating control system in this invention.

FIG. 7 shows internal circuit blocks of valve adjuster (300) of ‘stand-alone’ type of the heating control system in this invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 4 shows desirable embodiment oh this invention, ‘stand-alone’ type of the heating control system for saving energy and method thereof. This system comprises a plurality of auto valves associated with hot water pipes in a hot water distributor (10), a valve controller (20) connected to the auto valves to control ‘open or close’ of the valves, and a stand-alone type adjuster connected to the valve controller (20) and having a plurality of function keys. The stand-alone type adjuster includes a storage (324) for storing time information on a plurality of saving time periods in time or day during which the auto valves are closed and on set values inputted by a user, and a valve adjuster (300) for controlling the open or close of the auto valves via the valve controller (20), by using the function keys.

The detailed descriptions for each part of the control system will be followed in the following embodiments.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments will be described in conjunction with the drawing. Descriptions of the preferred embodiments are, in many respects, only illustrative. And there may be various modifications and extensions without exceeding the spirit and scope of this invention.

FIG. 3 reflects one embodiment of this invention, ‘integrated’ type of the heating control system, showing both valve controller (20) and boiler (40) connected to ‘integrated’ type adjuster (400) by electric wire.

The integrated type of heating control system of this invention includes a plurality of auto valves (11 a-11 d) associated with a hot water distributor (10), a valve controller for separately controlling to open or close the auto valves, an integrated adjuster (400) for providing control signals by wire or radio (the drawings shows connections by wire) to the boiler (40) and the valve controller (20) to control separate heating for each of the rooms.

Each auto valve (11 a-11 d) has a driving valve directly connected to the hot water distributor (10), and an electric actuator actuating the driving valve based on outside electric signal. The driving valve and the electric actuator are detachably connected to the hot water distributor using pipe couplers.

The valve controller (20) is connected between the auto valve (11 a-11 d) and the valve adjuster, powers the auto valve (11 a-11 d) by distributing power supplied from the outside, and produces valve open or close signals based on the valve control signals received from the integrated adjuster (400) and transfer those signals to the auto valves, respectively.

The integrated adjuster (400) is an electronic module into which a boiler adjuster (410) and a valve adjuster (420) are integrated. The boiler adjuster (410) controls operation of the boiler (40) based on key inputs and set temperature, and a valve adjuster (420) control the auto valves via the valve controller (20). The two adjusters may be powered by a power supply of the boiler (40).

The integrated adjuster may also have a radio transceiver to convert data including the valve control signals into radio signal and transmit or receive them.

The boiler adjuster (410) has a plurality of function setting keys and controls operation of the boiler (40) according key inputs and set temperature, whereby the temperature of the hot water to be distributed by the hot water distributor (10) cab be adjusted.

The valve adjuster (420) is arranged to share the function setting keys of the boiler adjuster (410), and to store in advance into a storage a plurality of saving time periods for saving heating energy. And the valve adjuster can set at least one selected by user from among the plurality of saving time periods in time or day, and output valve control signals to open or close the corresponding auto valves based on the saving time periods in time or day thus set. Further valve adjuster (420) may be arranged to comprise a power failure compensation section for supplying subsidiary power to compensate for power failure, and when the main power supply is stopped, the subsidiary power can be supplied for a built-in timer to continue current time or day counting operation. This power failure compensation section may be powered by a subsidiary power supply, and continuously generates real time clock (RTC) even though the main power supply is stopped. Life span of the subsidiary power supply is desirably at least 5 years.

The valve controller (20) receives valve control signals from the valve adjuster (420) in the integrated adjuster, separately control to open or close the corresponding auto valves. This valve controller has a radio transceiver for communicating with that of the integrated adjuster, whereby it can transmit or receive data including the valve control signal from the valve adjuster.

The communication of data including control signal between the integrated adjuster and the vale controller can be done by either of wire and radio communications. The wire communication may be done using, for example, electric wire or power line modem (PLC), and the radio communication may be either of RF (radio frequency), infrared, Bluetooth, Zigbee communications.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configurations of another embodiment of this invention, a ‘stand-alone’ type of heating control system for saving energy. This stand-alone heating control system includes a plurality of auto valves (11 a-11 d) associated with a hot water distributor to separately control heating of individual rooms, a valve controller (20) for separately controlling to open or close the individual auto valves (11 a-11 d), and a ‘stand-alone’ type of adjuster sending control signals to the valve controller (20). The stand-alone adjuster has a valve adjuster (300) with a plurality of function setting keys outside.

The auto valves (11 a-11 d) are the same configuration and function as in the integrated heating control system. So there will be no further descriptions about it

The valve controller (20) is connected between the auto valves (11 a-11 d) and the valve adjuster (300) and powers the auto valves and the valve adjuster for their operations by distributing power supplied from the outside. And it produces valve open or close signals based on the valve control signals transmitted from the valve adjuster (300).

The valve adjuster (300) sets a plurality of saving time periods in time or day for the auto valves, and control to open or close the corresponding valves at the start/end points of the saving time periods.

The valve adjuster (300) also has a plurality of function setting keys, and a plurality of saving time periods for save energy can be stored into storage in advance using this keys. And the valve adjuster (300) may desirably have a power failure compensation section as in the integrated heating control system for power failure compensation function to provide subsidiary power when main power was stopped.

FIG. 7 is a internal circuit block diagram of this invention, stand-alone heating control system. As illustrated in the drawing, the valve adjuster is adapted to include: a key input section (321) with a plurality of function setting keys (321 a-321 e); a display section (323) to display in texts/graphics/sound, a selection/release of the saving time periods in time or day for individual valves, any states of operations, and an alarm or an output message informing that current time resetting is required for power failure compensation, etc.; microprocessor (322) to control the overall operations of the system for saving energy; a storage section (324) including storage means of hard disk or flash memory, etc., to store time information in time or day, that is, the saving time periods for the ‘open or close’ of individual valves for energy saving heating; and a power failure compensation section (325) for power failure compensation function to provide subsidiary power when main power was stopped. The valve adjuster (420) of the integrated heating control system also may have the same configurations as that of the stand-alone system.

The key input section (321) has a plurality of function selection keys, as follows: ‘current time’ setting keys (321 a) for setting current time or day; ‘valve operation time reservation’ setting keys (321 b) for setting the saving time periods in time or day for energy saving heating; ‘valve close/open/temporary open’ setting keys (321 c) for selecting closing, opening or temporary opening for each valve; ‘setting lock/unlock’ keys (321 d) for locking or unlocking settings; and ‘setting store’ keys (321 e) for controlling to store settings by a user as initial mode. With key operations of these setting keys, the user can input or select time or day for setting the saving time periods in time or day for each valve.

The microprocessor (322) includes a input processor (322 a) for processing the key input signals; a main control section (322 b) for controlling the valve controller; a timer (322 c) for providing reference clock to drive the auto valves or count accumulatively the total time during which power has been supplied; a communication section (322 d) with communication interface circuit for wire or radio communications with the valve controller. This communication section may be implemented with radio transceiver, electric wire or power line modem to convert data including the valve control signals from the valve adjuster into radio signals and transmit or receive them. The radio communication may be one of RF (radio frequency), infrared, Bluetooth and Zigbee communications.

More detailed description of the main control section (322 b) will be followed for each case of the integrated type system and the stand-alone type system.

First, consider the case the main control section is built in the valve adjuster (420) of the integrated adjuster (400). A plurality of saving time periods for saving heating energy have been set and stored in advance into a storage in initial state. When main power starts to be supplied, the main control section compares the time and day counted by real time clock of the built-in timer with the current time and day set by user to check whether there is a match between them or not. If there is not a match, the main control section produces valve control signals to remain all the valves open until the current time and day are adjusted.

On the contrary, if there is a match between them, the main control section selects al least one of the plurality of saving time periods in time or day stored in advance and set the saving time period in time or day for each valve. And the main control section checks current time and day and outputs valve control signal to close or open the auto valve according to the said saving time periods in time or day set in advance for each valve for energy saving heating. The acts described above are performed by control logic in the main control section.

Second, consider the case the main control section (322 b) is built in the valve adjuster (300) of the stand-alone heating control system (400). A plurality of saving time periods for saving heating energy have been set and stored in advance into a storage in initial state. When main power starts to be supplied, the main control section accumulatively counts and stores the total time for which the main power is supplied. Meanwhile, if the power supply is interrupted, the main control section stores the current saving time periods in time or day into the storage concurrently with the interruption of power, to memory current mode in operation. Next, the main control section compares the time and day counted by real time clock of the built-in timer with the current time and day set by user to check whether there is a match between them or not. If there is not a match in the comparison, the main control section outputs a valve control signal to remain all the valves close except one valve which is randomly selected by main processor, until the current time and day are adjusted by the user. On the contrary, if there is a match in the comparison, the main control section selects at least one of the plurality of saving time periods in time or day stored in advance and set the saving time period in time or day for each valve. And the main control section checks current time and day and outputs valve control signal to close or open the auto valve according to the said saving time periods in time or day set in advance for each valve for energy saving heating.

Meanwhile, in both cases of stand-alone and integrated system, the main control section may continue to count the time and day with subsidiary power supplied via power failure compensation section, even though the main power is interrupted.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show operation flow chart of the control logic incorporated into the main control section in the stand-alone heating control system. The 1^(st) step of operation flow is to store in advance a plurality of saving time periods in time or day into a storage. FIG. 5 illustrates 2^(nd) step of operation flows (S301-S317), and FIG. 6 illustrates 3^(rd) step of operation flows (S320-S340). The 1^(st) step may further include a step of setting saving time periods in time or day for each valve with initial values specified by a user concurrently with power supply, which is not depicted in the drawing.

As illustrated in the FIG. 5, the 2^(nd) step may include the following steps: a step (S301) of determining whether the main power is on or not; a step (S302) of storing data of the saving time periods currently set in time, date or day into the storage, when the power supply is interrupted, to memory operation modes set by the user; a step (S303) of accumulatively counting the total time supplied with power using real time clock, when the main power is on; a step (S305) of comparing the time and day counted by real time clock of the built-in timer with the current time and day set by the user to determine whether there is a match between them or not; steps (S307, 5309) of, if there is not a match in the comparison, controlling the valve controller to output a valve control signal to remain all the valves close except one valve which is randomly selected by main processor (all valves remained open in integrated type), until the current time and day are adjusted by the user; a step (S311) of reading out and presenting, if the current time is the same as the time counted by the timer in the above comparison or is adjusted by the user, at least one of the plurality of the saving time periods in time or day stored in advance; and steps (S313-S317) of checking whether the settings are locked or unlocked storing values selected by key inputs in unlock mode.

In the mode of settings lock, all the key inputs are disregarded. In the mode of settings unlock, it may be possible to set and store selections of one or more saving time periods in time or day, and of compulsory open/close/temporary open and so on. Further, the 2^(nd) step may also include a step of selecting and designating any saving time periods directly inputted by a user other than the plurality of saving time periods stored in advance, which step is referred as ‘24 hours saving time setting’; a step of setting compulsory modes of setting and storing compulsory open/close mode, temporary open mode, settings lock/unlock mode according to key inputs by the user; and the step (S317) of checking the settings lock/unlock, if the unlock mode has been selected, inputting and storing newly selected values of saving time periods in time or day, the compulsory open/close mode, or the temporary open mode, though all these steps are not in detail reflected in the drawing.

Meanwhile, if the time and day counted by timer are different from the current time and day set by the user due to long time power failure, since resetting of the current time is required, the 2^(nd) step may further include a step of outputting an alarm or messages thereof on display device such as liquid crystal display. Thus the user can be informed when the readjustment of the current time needed.

Further, the 2^(nd) step may include a step of setting and storing initial mode to designate values set by the user as initial values, and when power supply is initiated, to memory the values set by the user to set them as the initial values.

The 3^(rd) step include steps (S320-340) of checking setting states of compulsory open/close/temporary open, setting states of days unlocked and current time for each valve of n valves in the hot water distributor and outputting the valve control signal to open or close the each auto valve according to the saving time periods in time/day set for the each auto valve, thus selectively and separately controlling a plurality of auto valves in time or day for saving energy.

Speaking in more detail, as illustrated in FIG. 6, there may be included steps (S321-S322) of selecting and checking a valve; steps (S323, S324) of checking whether the compulsory open/close mode are set, and controlling to open or close the valve according to the set value of the compulsory open/close mode; steps (S325-S327) of checking whether a day on which the heating control for saving energy is to be unlocked is set, and controlling to open the valve on the day; and steps (S328-S335) of, when a temporary open mode is set during a designated period for a valve, controlling to open the valve during the designated period and then return to the heating control mode for saving energy.

The storage section (324) stores time data indicating a plurality of saving time periods that may be some time intervals in a day, or saving time periods determined by analyzing room user's everyday living pattern to find out an average time interval of the day during which the room is not used. For example, a sleeping time at night may be the vacant time interval for living room or kitchen room, and for a student's room or a salary man's room the vacant time interval may be during time at school or work. Thus this vacant time interval may be determined as the saving time periods. During the saving time periods, the auto valves are closed not to provide the room with hot water, resulting in reduction in unnecessary consumption of energy.

Time intervals exemplified in the following are the time periods during which auto valves are closed to save energy, and the valves are open during the remaining time intervals not specified in the following.

For example, in case of living room, sleeping time at night can be divided into various time intervals to set saving time periods as follows: 1^(st) saving time mode of 24 p.m.˜6 a.m.; 2^(nd) saving time mode of 23 p.m.˜6 a.m.; 3^(rd) saving time mode of 22 p.m.˜6 a.m.; 4^(th) saving time mode of 21 p.m.˜6 a.m.; 5^(th) saving time mode of 24 p.m.˜7 a.m.; 6^(th) saving time mode of 23 p.m.˜7 a.m.; 7^(th) saving time mode of 22 p.m.˜7 a.m.; 8^(th) saving time mode of 24 p.m.˜8 a.m.; 9^(th) saving time mode of 23 p.m.˜8 a.m.

In case of student's room, considering times to go to school and to get back home, various saving time periods can be set as follows: 1^(st) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜12 a.m.; 2^(nd) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜13 p.m.; 3^(rd) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜14 p.m.; 4^(th) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜15 p.m.; 5^(th) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜16 p.m.; 6^(th) saving time mode of 7:30 a.m.˜12 a.m.; 7^(th) saving time mode of 7:30 a.m.˜13 p.m.; 8^(th) saving time mode of 7:30 a.m.˜14 p.m.; 9^(th) saving time mode of 7:30 a.m.˜15 p.m.

In case of salary man's room, considering times to go to work and to get back home, various saving time periods can be set as follows: 1^(st) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜17 p.m.; 2^(nd) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜18 p.m.; 3^(rd) saving time mode of 7 a.m.˜19 p.m.; 4^(th) saving time mode of 8 a.m.˜17 p.m.; 5^(th) saving time mode of 8 a.m.˜18 p.m.; 6^(th) saving time mode of 8 a.m.˜19 p.m.

As described above, various kinds of time intervals may be configured and set as the saving time periods for saving energy. The user can just select saving time periods most appropriate for each room among them considering the user's everyday living pattern to control heating for saving energy.

Also if the user needs any saving time periods other than the saving time periods stored in advance, that is, wants to operate a valve for night shift or any special time, he can use 24 hours saving time setting mode to set and store new saving time periods for each valve and then select the newly set saving time periods for saving energy.

In this heating control system for saving energy, a user can select all days from Monday to Sunday in a week to be unlocked from saving heating for each valve. If a particular valve is selected to be unlocked, it always get open and in heating mode during the selected day (for example Saturday, Sunday), irrespective of the reserved saving heating time period. And on the remaining days (Monday to Friday) the auto valve will be controlled according to the reserved saving time periods.

Further, in this heating control system for saving energy, when a valve is in operation of mode of saving time period in time, it can be switched to open/close/temporary open mode. Thus, once the open or close mode for the valve is selected, then the valve remains open or close until operation mode is newly readjusted. If one of temporary open modes of 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours are set, the valve in saving mode is switched to be open for selected time and then return automatically to the saving mode after selected time. For example, if temporary mode of 2 hours is selected, the valve is switched to the temporary mode and then it will return to the saving mode already set after 2 hours, and if temporary mode of 6 hours is selected, the valve is switched to the temporary mode and then it will return to the saving mode already set after 6 hours. However if open/close mode is selected, the valve remain open/close until there will be another adjustment by user.

For example, consider an auto valve for a student's room. If 8 a.m.˜4 p.m. is selected as saving time period and then Saturday and Sunday are selected as an unlocked days, then the auto valve will remain close for 2 hours of 8 a.m.˜4 p.m. every day of Monday to Friday and it will be open during the remaining time of weekday, Saturday and Sunday for normal heating. Using this heating method, effective heating can be automatically performed according to the setting states for each room.

Table 1˜Table 4 show comparisons of heating fuel consumption quantity for 4 years of 2005˜2008 for 4 homes (A, B, D and E), respectively. All homes used LP gas heating fuel. All 4 homes operated a conventional heating system for each 6 months (Dec.˜May) in year 2005˜2006 and then the stand-alone heating control system of this invention installed in the living room and kitchen for each 6 month (Dec.˜May) in year 2007˜2008.

Table 1 shows fuel consumption data of A home with total heating area of 99 m², which home performed saving heating with saving time period in time for 10 p.m.˜6 a.m. Table 2 shows fuel consumption data of B home with total heating area of 99 m², which home performed saving heating with saving time period in time for 10 p.m.˜6 a.m. Table 3 shows fuel consumption data of D home with total heating area of 139 m², which home performed saving heating with saving time period in time for 10 p.m.˜6 a.m. And Table 4 shows fuel consumption data of E home with total heating area of 179 m², which home performed saving heating with saving time period in time for 8 p.m.˜6 a.m.

TABLE 1 consumed gas quantity (m³/h) items year December January February March April May total av./year no saving 2005 130 210 300 240 190 150 1220 1305 operation 2006 130 340 200 291 250 179 1390 saving 2007 105 189 194 192 185 134 999 897 operation 2008 121 180 149 175 124  46 795 reduced quan./year  17  90.5  78.5  82  65.5  74.5 408 reduced rate/year  13%  33%  31%  31%  30%  45% 31%

TABLE 2 consumed gas quantity (m³/h) items year December January February March April May total av./year no saving 2005  94 188 228 194 217 131 1052 1167 operation 2006 131 170 289 116 375 200 1281 saving 2007 156 180 163 147 170  93 909 825 operation 2008  93 140 152 150 153  52 740 reduced quan./year −12  19 101  6.5 134.5  93 342 reduced rate/year  −1%  1.1%  39%  0.4%  45%  56% 29.3%

TABLE 3 consumed gas quantity (m³/h) items year December January February March April May total av./year no saving 2005  94 201 200 746 307 196 1744 1781 operation 2006 154 622 384 299 276  83 1818 saving 2007 290 248 203 191 243  85 1260 1296 operation 2008 160 364 286 237 173 103 1332 reduced quan./year −105.5 105.5  47.5 308.5  83.5  45.5 485 reduced rate/year −85%  26%  16%  59%  29%  33% 27.2%

TABLE 4 consumed gas quantity (m³/h) items year December January February March April May June total av./year no saving 2005 266 348 528 551 456 409 254 2807 2732 operation 2006 353 515 483 362 385 328 231 2657 saving 2007 138 278 377 114 392 216 152 1667 1713 operation 2008 133 244 606 343  92 282  59 1759 reduced quan./year 174 168  14 228 178.5 119.5 137 1019 reduced rate/year  56%  39%  3%  50%  42%  32%  56%  39.7%

According to the table 1˜4, gas reduction effect of 27.2%˜39.7% can be obtained by using this invention of heating control system. These are results achieved just by controlling heating only for living room and kitchen. If this system is also applied to any other rooms, for example student or salary man's rooms, library room, dress room, in the day time, the numerical values of the reduction effect may more increase according conditions for application.

Numerous characteristics and advantages of this invention have been set forth. It is understood that the description of the preferred embodiments are, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of component selection and matters of shape, size and arrangements of parts, without exceeding the scope of this invention. Having described the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, it can be seen the various purposes and objectives have been achieved, and that there may be modifications and extensions that will become apparent to those skilled in the art without exceeding the spirit and scope of this invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to this invention, since saving time setting for controlling heating is very convenient and simple, active saving heating is possible to be performed according to a user's everyday living pattern and changes in activity time in weekend or weekday. This invention may be applied to various kinds of heating system including ondol heating system. And since this invention provides many types of heating control system, for example, of wire control type, radio control type, integrated type and stand-alone type, this invention can be flexibly applied to various kinds of housing, apartment and building according their application conditions.

And according to this invention, since it is possible to monitor whether the saving heating method of this invention is used, by checking accumulative total time supplied with power, a system provider can install this system for free in a user's housing and then he/she can be refunded with reduced fuel cost obtained by using this system. 

1. A heating control system for saving energy, wherein hot water heated by a boiler flows through pipes to heat one or more rooms, comprising: a storage stored with a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; auto valves associated with the pipes in a hot water distributor; an integrated adjuster having a plurality of function setting keys outside; and a valve controller separately controlling to open or close the auto valves according to valve control signals received from the integrated adjuster, wherein the integrated adjuster comprises: a boiler adjuster controlling operation of the boiler according to values inputted from the function setting keys to adjust the temperature of the hot water; and a valve adjuster outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to close auto valves selected during the saving time periods selected by a user using the function setting keys and to open them for the time except the selected saving time periods.
 2. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein the saving time periods are with time or day in units.
 3. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein the integrated adjuster includes a radio transceiver to transmit or receive data including the valve control signals as radio signals, and the valve controller includes a radio transceiver to receive the radio signals and to detect the data including the valve control signals therefrom or transmit radio signals.
 4. The heating control system of claim 3, wherein the radio communication may be one of radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth and Zigbee communications.
 5. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein the integrated adjuster and the valve controller are connected to each other by wire or power line modem (PLC) to transmit or receive data including the valve control signals.
 6. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein the integrated adjuster is powered by the power supply of the boiler.
 7. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein the valve adjuster further comprises a power failure compensation section for supplying subsidiary power to compensate for power failure, and when main power supply is stopped, a built-in timer is powered by the subsidiary power to continue current time counting.
 8. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein the valve controller is connected between the auto valves and the valve adjuster, powers the auto valves by distributing power supplied from the outside, and produces valve open or close signals based on the valve control signals received from the valve adjuster.
 9. The heating control system of claim 1, wherein each auto valve includes a driving valve directly connected to the hot water distributor and an electric actuator actuating the driving valve based on an electric signal from outside, and the driving valve and the electric actuator are detachably connected to the hot water distributor using pipe couplers.
 10. A heating control method for use in a system wherein hot water heated by a boiler flows through pipes to heat one or more rooms, the system comprising a storage; auto valves associated with the pipes in a hot water distributor; an integrated adjuster with a plurality of function setting keys outside to outputting valve control signals to open or close the auto valves; and a valve controller separately controlling to open or close the auto valves based on valve control signals received from the integrated adjuster, the method comprising: (a) storing into the storage in advance a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; (b) selecting and setting at least one of the plurality of saving time periods in time or day using the function setting keys; (c) outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to open or close the auto valves during the set saving time periods in time or day.
 11. The heating control method of claim 10, wherein the saving time periods are with time or day in units.
 12. The heating control method of claim 10, wherein the selecting and setting step (b2) further includes setting or modifying saving time periods directly specified by a user other than the plurality of saving time periods stored in advance.
 13. The heating control method of claim 10, wherein the selecting and setting step (b3) further includes storing at least one of compulsory open/close mode, temporary open mode, and lock/unlock mode of any settings for the auto valves using key inputs by a user, and checking the lock/unlock mode of any settings, and if the unlock mode has been selected, storing (b4) at least one of new values of saving time periods in time or day, or compulsory open/close mode and temporary open mode for the auto valves using key inputs by a user.
 14. The heating control method of claim 10, wherein the selecting and setting step (b5) further includes setting initial mode to store values set by a user as initial values; and the storing step (a0) further includes setting the initial values as the saving time periods in time or day for each valve concurrently with main power supply.
 15. The heating control method of claim 13, wherein the outputting step (c1) further comprises sequentially checking whether compulsory open/close mode, saving time periods in day, saving time period in time, and temporary open mode for each valve have been set, and controlling to open or close the each valve based on the results of the checking.
 16. The heating control method of claim 15, wherein the outputting step further comprises, if the compulsory open/close mode has been set for each valve, controlling to open or close the each valve based on the set value.
 17. The heating control method of claim 15, wherein the outputting step further comprises, if the compulsory open/close mode has not been set for each valve, checking whether saving time periods in day have been set, and controlling to open the each valve on the day.
 18. The heating control method of claim 15, wherein the outputting step further comprises, if the compulsory open/close mode and saving time periods in day have not been set for each valve, determining whether the current time is within the saving time period in time, and controlling to open or close the each valve.
 19. The heating control method of claim 18, wherein the outputting step further comprises, while a valve is in close mode during the saving time period in time, checking whether the temporary open mode has been set, and controlling to open the valve for the time specified by the temporary open mode.
 20. A heating control system for saving energy, wherein hot water heated by a boiler flows through pipes to heat one or more rooms, comprising: a storage stored with a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; auto valves associated with the pipes in a hot water distributor; a stand alone adjuster having a plurality of function setting keys outside; and a valve controller separately controlling to open or close the auto valves based on valve control signals received from the stand alone adjuster, wherein the stand alone adjuster comprises: a valve adjuster outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to close auto valves selected during the saving time periods selected by a user using the function setting keys and to open them for the time except the selected saving time periods.
 21. The heating control system of claim 20, wherein the saving time periods are with time or day in units.
 22. The heating control system of claim 20, wherein the valve adjuster further comprises a power failure compensation section for supplying subsidiary power to compensate for power failure, and when main power supply is stopped, a built-in timer is powered by the subsidiary power to continue current time counting.
 23. The heating control system of claim 20, wherein the valve adjuster checks whether main power is supplied, and counts and stores the accumulated total time during which the main power is supplied.
 24. The heating control system of claim 20, wherein the valve controller is connected between the auto valves and the valve adjuster, powers the auto valves and the valve adjuster by distributing power supplied from the outside, and produces valve open or close signals based on the valve control signals received from the valve adjuster.
 25. The heating control system of claim 20, wherein each auto valve includes a driving valve directly connected to the hot water distributor and an electric actuator actuating the driving valve based on an electric signal from outside, and the driving valve and the electric actuator are detachably connected to the hot water distributor using pipe couplers.
 26. A heating control method for use in a system wherein hot water heated by a boiler flows through pipes to heat one or more rooms, the system comprising a storage; auto valves associated with the pipes in a hot water distributor; a valve adjuster with a plurality of function setting keys outside for outputting valve control signals to open or close the auto valves; and a valve controller separately controlling to open or close the auto valves based on valve control signals received from the valve adjuster, the method comprising: (a) storing into the storage in advance a plurality of saving time periods during which the hot water distribution to the one or more rooms is to be stopped; (b) selecting and setting at least one of the plurality of saving time periods in time or day using the function setting keys; (c) outputting the valve control signals for the valve controller to control to open or close the auto valves during the set saving time periods in time or day, wherein the selecting and setting step (b1) further comprises checking whether main power is supplied, and counting the accumulated total time during which the main power is supplied to the valve adjuster.
 27. The heating control method of claim 26, wherein the saving time periods are with time or day in units.
 28. The heating control method of claim 26, wherein the selecting and setting step (b2) further includes setting or modifying saving time periods directly specified by a user other than the plurality of saving time periods stored in advance.
 29. The heating control method of claim 26, wherein the selecting and setting step (b3) further includes storing at least one of compulsory open/close mode, temporary open mode, and lock/unlock mode of any settings for the auto valves using key inputs by a user, and checking the lock/unlock mode of any settings, and if the unlock mode has been selected, storing (b4) at least one of new values of saving time periods in time or day, or compulsory open/close mode and temporary open mode for the auto valves using key inputs by a user.
 30. The heating control method of claim 26, wherein the selecting and setting step (b5) further includes setting initial mode to store values set by a user as initial values; and the storing step (a0) further includes setting the initial values as the saving time periods in time or day for each valve concurrently with main power supply.
 31. The heating control method of claim 29, wherein the outputting step (c1) further comprises sequentially checking whether compulsory open/close mode, saving time periods in day, saving time period in time, and temporary open mode for each valve have been set, and controlling to open or close the each valve based on the results of the checking.
 32. The heating control method of claim 31, wherein the outputting step further comprises, if the compulsory open/close mode has been set for each valve, controlling to open or close the each valve based on the set value.
 33. The heating control method of claim 31, wherein the outputting step further comprises, if the compulsory open/close mode has not been set for each valve, checking whether saving time periods in day have been set, and controlling to open the each valve on the day.
 34. The heating control method of claim 31, wherein the outputting step further comprises, if the compulsory open/close mode and saving time periods in day have not been set for each valve, determining whether the current time is within the saving time period in time, and controlling to open or close the each valve.
 35. The heating control method of claim 34, wherein the outputting step further comprises, while a valve is in close mode during the saving time period in time, checking whether the temporary open mode has been set, and controlling to open the valve for the time specified by the temporary open mode. 